IN MEMORIAM H. BERNARD BECHTEL (1922-2009)

In Memoriam: H. B. Bechtel
Monday, July 13, 2009: Lawrence, Kansas - CNAH
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
13 July 2009

IN MEMORIAM H. BERNARD BECHTEL (1922-2009)

Dr. H. Bernard Bechtel, of Valdosta, Georgia, died suddenly on Friday, 10 July 2009 in Gainesville, Florida, en route to visit family. He was born on 2 October 1922 near the small western Pennsylvania village of New Enterprise. While he was still an infant, the family moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania where his father obtained work in a dairy. He attended public schools in Johnstown, graduating from Johnstown Central High School in 1940, and began to attend the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Center. This was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army Air Force, where he became an aerial gunner. He participated in 30 missions over Germany as a gunner on B-17s. Following the war, he completed his pre-medical studies at Juniata College in Huntington, Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1950. Following an internship at Reading General Hospital in Reading, Pennsylvania, he established a general practice in Johnstown. In 1955, he married Elizabeth Reimet of Moorestown, New Jersey. In 1956, he accepted a residency in dermatology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. He practiced dermatology in Johnstown from 1959 until 1963, when he and his wife, Bette, moved to Valdosta, where he practiced until he retired in 1997. He was Diplomate in The American Academy of Dermatology.

From a very early age, Dr. Bechtel was an avid student of reptiles, turtles, crocodilians, and amphibians; he was a herpetologist as well as being a dermatologist. He published a book and numerous publications, mostly pertaining to his area of expertise in snake genetics, for which he was widely known. His wife Bette was his partner in this and became a recognized herpetologist on her own after their marriage. Dr. Bechtel is survived by his wife, Bette Bechtel of Valdosta; sister, Alma Mountain of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; two nephews, Joe Mountain of Fort Pierce, Florida, and Ned Mountain of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia.

Dr. Bechtel requested no flowers. Donations may be made to his favorite charity, The National Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, Va., 22203-1606. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at

www.mclanefuneralservices.com

The CNAH Board of Directors extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Bernard Bechtel.